BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com
Incoming freshmen always have a lot of choices to make.
Mahomet-Seymour’s William Larson was no different.
Four years ago, Larson had to decide if he wanted to put down the french horn or if he would continue on with band, which would require him to switch to the mellophone and learn how to march.
“Going into freshman year I was going to quit band because I wasn’t sure that I wanted to do marching band,” Larson said. “However, after much convincing from friends and Mr. (Phil) Meyer, and the thought of losing concert band, I decided to stay in band.”
The decision to stick with band led him to a few friendships that also changed his course in band.
As a freshman, Larson was part of the Freshmen Mentoring Program at Mahomet-Seymour High School. One of his mentors, Gabe Llano, was a drum major. And his best friend in marching band — who also became his mentor — Jordan Lund was also a drum major.
“These two people motivated and inspired me to work hard in band,” Larson said. “Because of their actions, I wanted to be able to do those same things for others by also becoming a drum major.”
Going into his sophomore year, Larson had his sights set on leading the band from the podium, but his audition fell short.
“That motivated me to work harder and then the second time I was chosen,” he continued. “Of my four years in band, I have been drum major for two years.”
Whether Larson was playing an instrument or directing his peers, he has grown as an individual just as the band has grown as a group.
“Band for me is an outlet of self-expression,” he said.
“Through the music, I am able to let out my anger and sadness and the music, in turn, brings me joy. It is very hard to express in words exactly what marching band means to me, and I truly feel that it is a part of me.”
He said he has also learned a lot about problem-solving through the structure of marching band.
While staff and parents are heavily involved to make sure all the parts are moving for the large group, the students carry the responsibilities that they can.
From student leaders that include sections leaders, section captions and drum majors, and students, the large picture is broken into manageable segments where the small parts are working to build the whole group into better performers.
“The student leaders are tasked with breaking down and solving the more individual and small section problems,” Larson said. “They also are there to help prevent large issues from occurring. The students are then tasked with keeping each other accountable and on task.”
Larson said this helps students realize that they can make a system work, and that they don’t always have to turn to adults for help.
“You are able to feel more comfortable as a student when you are able to work out your problems or personal issues with a peer,” Larson said. “I also like this system because it allows the whole band to keep moving when a problem does arise because there are so many places someone can go to for help.”
Larson’s mission has been to use his love of music to help improve the band.
“My main goal this year was to provide and help the band achieve perfect time (no phasing in the music/ playing out of time),” he said.
When the 200-member band began adding movements to “Khan” by Julie Giroux, “October” by Eric Whitacre and “Gladiator”, Larson knew that the task would be difficult.
He said he got a great vantage point to all the improvements the band made throughout the 2019 season as the backfield drum major.
“I truly believe that this was the best band Mahomet has had in the four years in my high school career,” he said.
“We started the year with a new group of freshmen that I honestly thought would struggle with listening and marching. I was proved wrong in the weeks following band camp when their attitude and focus totally changed.
“After those first semi-rough weeks, the band improved by leaps and bounds into the wonderful group we have now.”
“In the end (my) goal was finally achieved very late in the season,” Larson said.
The Marching Bulldogs took first place in 5A competition early in the season at the Eastern Illinois University. They went on to place second at Illinois Wesleyan.
Once Larson saw the show come together at the Bands of America Performance in St. Louis on Oct. 19, he realized just how special the show was.
“I truly realized how much I loved the show and how much I will miss and do miss marching band after finishing the season,” he said.
Mahomet-Seymour went on to place second in the 3A competition at the University of Illinois on Oct. 26, the school’s final competition of the season.
“Every time I walk out on the field, I feel immense pride and joy that I was chosen to and am able to represent our band on the field,” Larson said.
“When I am on the field with my best friends (Annie Henrichs, Gwen Tee and Alexis Young) and we receive an award, we do not accept it and feel good for ourselves; we accept it feeling an overwhelming joy for the group of kids that performed to earn that award.”
